Report of the Committee on Qualifications and Membership
for the Year ending June 30, 2006
I. Annual Meeting of the Committee
The Committee met on September 16-18, 2005 at the Sigma Xi Center in Research Triangle Park, NC. The committee's charge, articulated at the Society's 1996 annual meeting, is: to develop policy issues and make recommendations to the Executive Director and/or Board, with the objectives of strengthening the chapters and increasing the Society's membership while maintaining the tradition of honor in science and engineering.
Committee members present at the meeting were: Graham Peaslee (Chair), Hope College; Sulekha Anand, San Jose State University; Carol Beck, Thomas Jefferson University; Elaine Davis, Howard University; Anthony Iacopino, Marquette University (R&D Constituency Director); Linda Meadows, Ohio State University (North Central Regional Director); Kelly O. Sullivan, Tri-Cities Washington; Pamela Willoughby, University of Alberta. Unable to attend was committee member Diane Coulopoulos, Delta Chapter.
Staff liaisons organizing the meeting were: Laura Nigro, Director of Membership and Chapter Programs; and Kathy McLane, Administrator, Chapter Services and Membership.
During the weekend, the committee was joined by staff guests for some or all of the meeting: Patrick Sculley, Executive Director; Lana Barnwell, Chief Administrative Officer; Sharon Davis, Manager of Membership Services and Benefits; and Katie Lord, Director of Marketing and Communications and Associate Publisher of American Scientist.
Special guest to the meeting was: Bertis Little, member, Sigma Xi Strategic Planning Committee, Tarleton State University.
II. Business and Activities of the Committee
During its annual meeting, the Committee on Qualifications and Membership discussed membership trends of the Society and recommended the following actions in response to these trends:
Approve a new scheme of Sigma Xi membership and affiliation categories, as follows:
Existing categories of Associate and Full Member remain unchanged (including requirement of nomination, review and approval).
A new non-member (non-nominated) general category of Sigma Xi Partner should be created, with the following three specifications:
- Friend - no science background required
- Scholar - enrollment in a STEM curriculum required, along with potential for scientific/engineering research (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
- Affiliate - career in a STEM field, or STEM education, required
Do not support Sigma Xi Fellow or Distinguished Member categories. However, do support the board recognizing members for distinguished contributions to the Society.
Encourage chapters to utilize existing mechanisms for recognizing members, and to team up with other chapters on recognition activities. Staff will investigate web-based Society recognition for individuals who have won chapter awards and commendations.
Proceed with investigating a model for institutional membership, based on Marquette University as a potential first test case. Calculate costs and guaranteed services and benefits in the contract between Sigma Xi and Marquette U. This would constitute a test over three years; at the end of that period, the committee will determine whether or not to carry institutional membership forward for the whole Society.
Do not pursue the development of Sigma Xi Scientific Interest Groups. The committee recognized the intent to improve the strength of the Society and the Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference. However, it felt that the strength of the Society lies in its interdisciplinary nature and the focus should remain there. Many scientific societies have scientific interest groups as their core to meet this need.
Create and send a welcome letter to approximately half of all new initiates after the Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference and before the first dues notice of 2006, focused on the legacy and programs of the Society. At the end of the one-year study period, retention rates will be compared between those members who received the letter and those who did not.
Change the requirements for Chapter Good Standing as follows:
- All chapters must elect at least one new member each year.
- All chapters must conduct at least one chapter activity per year.
Elect all Society-wide offices by online means, for that particular segment of the membership that is eligible to vote for each of these specific positions. Offices include President, Treasurer, Regional Directors, Associate Regional Directors, Constituency Directors, Associate Constituency Directors, and Society-wide Nominating Committee. This would encourage greater involvement in Sigma Xi. Also, most scientific societies operate in this way, so the concept would not be foreign.
(NB: The FY06 CQM was split 3 to 3 on whether to recommend that Regional and Constituency Nominating Committees be elected online by their respective groups.)
Sigma Xi staff explore cost of renting a computerized audience-response systems for voting at the Annual Meeting.
The FY06 CQM also approved Committee member Carol Beck assuming the unexpired remainder of Graham Peaslee's term as chair of this Committee.
III. Chapter Awards for FY2005 (July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005)
A complete listing of chapter award winners with brief descriptions can be found at http://www.sigmaxi.org/chapters/winners/index.shtml
A. Chapters of Excellence
Certificates of Excellence were awarded to the following chapters for overall outstanding activity during FY2005. Nominees were chosen by the Constituency Group Directors based on Chapter Annual Reports, and winners were selected by the Committee on Qualifications and Membership as Chapters of Excellence.
University of Delaware
Texas A&M University
Ohio State University
Food and Drug Administration
New Orleans
Southern Oregon
Charleston
B. Chapter Outstanding Program Awards
Chapter Program Awards were given to the following chapters for organizing and/or hosting a single, outstanding program during the last year. Nominees were chosen by the Regional Directors based on Chapter Annual Reports and winners were selected by the Committee on Qualifications and Membership.
Alaska
Tidewater Virginia
Sigma Xi Georgia Partner
Charleston
University of Washington
C. Chapter Outstanding Diversity Program Award
Diversity Program Awards was presented to the Greater Des Moines Area Chapter, for its outstanding program that promoted diversity within the science, engineering and research communities.
D. Certificates of Recognition
Certificates of Recognition were awarded in to the following 15 chapters, which initiated the most new members last year.
- Princeton 158
- Brown University 145
- Claremont Colleges 111
- Smith College 106
- Swarthmore Colleg e 98
- Oberlin College 90
- McGill-Montreal 77
- Bucknell University 75
- Union College 75
- Carleton College 71
- Mount Holyoke College 70
- Williams College 69
- Washington University 61
- University of Chicago 59
- Delta 58
NB: Membership At Large had the greatest FY06 increase in members, at 1,692.
IV. Approved New Chapters, Mergers and Name Changes
A. New Chapters
The following new chapters were installed:
- CINVESTAV (29 Sep 2005)-Canadian/International Group (CI); SW Region
- UNAM (30 Sep 2005)-Canadian/International Group (CI); SW Region
- Mercer University (24 Oct 2005)-Comprehensive Colleges & Universities (CM); SE Region
B. Name Changes
The following name changes were approved by the Committee:
State University of New York at Oswego Chapter (formerly State University College-Oswego Chapter)
V. Membership of the Committee
For the year ending June 30, 2006, the Committee on Qualifications and Membership consisted of the following members:
Graham Peaslee (Chair), Hope College
Sulekha Anand, San Jose State University
Carol L. Beck, Thomas Jefferson University
Diane Coulopoulos, Delta Chapter (retired)
Elaine Davis, Howard University
Anthony Iacopino, Marquette University
Linda Meadows, Ohio State University
Kelly O. Sullivan, Tri-Cities Washington
Pamela Willoughby, University of Alberta
Staff Liaisons:
Laura Nigro, Director of Membership and Chapter Programs
Kathy McLane, Administrator, Chapter Services and Membership
VI. Acknowledgments
In addition to the two staff liaisons, the committee wishes to thank the two staff liaisons and staff for their hard work and dedication to membership, chapters and programs. The committee also thanks Graham Peaslee for his service on this committee, both as a member (years FY1999-FY2002 and FY2006) and as Chair (years FY2003-FY2006).
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